Death of driver sparks fleet changes

Following an incident at Lester Pearson International airport last April, when a baggage tractor driver was killed after his vehicle tipped over, Air Canada has been ordered to attach seatbelts to several hundred vehicles at airports across the country.

However, investigators have not actually revealed what they believe to have caused the accident. The reaction has also involved Air Canada checking its fleet of GSE for any faults or defects: the carrier has until November to comply with the order, which will involve upwards of 950 vehicles in all.

The fitting of seatbelts to GSE remains something of a controversial topic, however, with parties both for and against the procedure. Certainly, their fitting will prevent the ejection of an operator in the event of an overturn but by the same token, seatbelts also inhibit egress in the case of an emergency.